The Fountain of Living Waters

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Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

God is a fountain of living waters. A fountain or a spring is an endless source of supply. This verse indicates that God's people had committed two evils. First they had forsaken God. Left without a source of supply, they had attempted to supply their own needs. They "hewed out cisterns." A cistern is container to hold water. This may be a hole dug in the ground and lined to hold water. A cistern is not an endless supply. A cistern can only hold what is put into it. God's people had attempted to supply their own needs by making a cistern. Not only was the cistern made by God's people limited; it was broken and could hold NO water. Whenever we try to rely upon our own supply rather than looking to God to meet our needs, we will come up short.

Jeremiah 17:5-6
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

The man who trusts in himself or in man is cursed because he has no constant source of supply. "Maketh flesh his arm" refers to a man of war who lifts his sword and his sleeve slides down baring his arm. This man is his own strength. Flesh is his strength rather than God. When we trust in our own strength rather than in God we are like the heath, dried up in the desert. All of our times are tough. We become so used to lack that we do not even see when good comes. We are always thirsty and live in lack.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

The man who trusts in God is blessed. The Fountain of Living Waters is his constant source of supply. When we are planted by the waters, our life is one of continual blessings. All of our times are good. We become so used to having our needs met that when evil times arise we hardly notice. We stay green and growing and we produce fruit even in times of drought.

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

We trust God by trusting His Word. We meditate in the Word of God day and night rather than leaning to the counsel of the ungodly. God's Word is our only source for truth. God's Word is God's Will and makes known God who is the Fountain of Living Waters.

Psalm 1:3-4
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

When we trust God's Word and think about it day and night, whatsoever we do prospers. We have a constant source of supply like the tree that is planted by the waters. We stay green and growing and we produce fruit.

Psalm 36:7-9
   How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
   They shall be abundantly satisfied [watered] with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the water of thy pleasures.
   For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

   We trust God because of His lovingkindness. It is the goodness of God that brings us to trust him as chicks trust in the shelter of their mother's wing which shadows them from the heat. Our thirst is satisfied as we dwell in the presence of God. He is the Fountain of Life, supplying our every need with the water of His pleasures. What beautiful figures to describe the abundance of God and His care over our lives.

Proverbs 14:27
The fear [awe] of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Our awesome God is the Fountain of Living Waters. When we are humble and exalt God, He takes care of our needs.

Isaiah 41:17-20
   When the poor [humble] and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
   I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
   I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
   That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

God is our source of supply. When we have a need He has promised to supply it abundantly. All God asks is that we trust Him and His Word rather than looking to ourselves. He is the Fountain of Living Waters and He will supply all of our need as we look to Him.

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.